Messages - dHuGo

...so you can see the rating and listen to some examples - but how I would tell you the difference in my own words???

Well, you can hear great sounds with the standard size (Innovation) Darbouka. Those sounds I heard first from Arabic Pop compilations. It was fall 2009 and I had absolutely not any idea of that instrument. - But those sound... Next year, just in Christmas time I had my first contact with a real Darbouka - a mother of pearl Alexandria - and this moment totally grabbed me. - I had no choice else looking for my own new one. But I didn't know anything...

On slightly another note, I remember you saying that you have a “New Generation” drum. What sets this instrument apart from a standard darbuka/doumbek? I feel I have been advancing well in my skills and would like to upgrade to a nicer drum. Sadly I cannot afford a quality clay instrument, but would still like to get into a nicer aluminum instrument over my plastic one. Thanks!

Sure, we had a link before, with an overview in weight, size and prices. There you can see the New Generation is heavier, taller and a lot more expensive... I think, well, it's not the answer you're interested in.

My decision some years ago, as I remember I had had same trouble like you these days. - Then I found this site:

Hello, again,Let’s try to come to a point with the video stuff and then have the mind free for new ideas.

…and you’re right! – It’s Saidi in the performance.

The clue is – it isn’t present in the original tune. So we have both: a regular change from Maqsoum to Baladi and an irregular change from Baladi to Saidi too. A great illustration for the stuff we started with here in this topic!!! – That’s what I’d like to show you…

That’s enough for now. You may see in the clip, the performance was at a wedding day. You can find the couple right in the picture at mark 1:55. The video is named to be an improvisation.I guess someone of the guests asked the musicians to play the widely known tune – and they did it.In those bands it is normal to have some new stuff on the least drum –with instruction to play the base only for training. That newbie failed once being confused whether the double Doum in Baladi occurs - but when – fromt or middle…?!. – (Saidi is often used for bellydance, and comes a bit various and tricky.)You can hear (and see) the man failing first time at 0:45s. Only due to the great professionalism, I hope so, the whole ensemble follows and plays Saidi with a taste of Baladi like one man. It’s life - really, I like it!

Let’s stop with that now. (I will come back on this stuff in the “Semantics” topic.)

So are you saying that different rhythm patterns will never be played in the same tune, even if they are the same time signature? I used the example of Beledi and Maqsum because they are so similar.

But you have your answer here in the video, listen:At start there's something with three heavy Doums 6 times, then you have a change in temp and it's 8 times Maqsum changing to a slower Baladi which is framing the solo part...

(... and I found something unexpected I wonder you might hear it too ...)

I’m curious, is there ever a time when the rhythms Maqsum and Beledi would be played in the same sitting? Alternating the Doums and Teks?

To alternate Doums and Teks? - Never ever...!

The basic pattern of a rhythm is build of a row of different Doums, Teks (and rests). That is typical - this gives the rhythm a signature, a meaning - a unique style at least.

You may ask me, as a beginner: "Ok, but I have some Ka in the base I'm now playing...?" - So let's stop on it and me tell you: "What is a Ka?!" - ... should be same like a Tek- but actually played with wrong hand instead. Ka is featuring the Teks. Playing some alternating Tekka you get an ornament, a roll!

That's why it is important to do the Tekka with the same or similar sound, independent of you are playing right now a Tek (with your strong hand) or Ka (with the weaker one). It’s communication. Audience but dancers will hear your pattern and get some orientation what’s going up now.

That way Doums and Teks are encoding semantics of the pattern. - In Arabic rhythms there is it like in Arabian language too:All the Arabian words have a root what’s encoded by the row of (mostly three) consonants in it, i.e. “KTB” means “written”.

That gives the word a basic meaning, what never will change for the whole word family and all word forms within are featuring with different vocals in between the root of the words:

“KiTaaB” gives you the result of the writing, a book (but it may be a note or a letter as well)

“maKTaB” marks the place of the writing - an office (but same for the table you’re writing on)

“alKaaTiB” – the person who performs the writing etc.

And in drumming?! – You have a basic pattern and several variations of it. - It’s like telling a story in words…